The chill of the early morning did not dispel the fervor of the crowd.
Especially upon seeing the Red Hair Pirates and the Revolutionary Army arrive one after another.
This added to the Holy Land Marie Geoise a sense of excitement akin to an impending volcanic eruption.
In truth, among those present, including the viewers in the live broadcast, only a select few truly knew the real name of the Revolutionary Army's leader.
Therefore, the moment Monkey D. Dragon, the dragon’s real name, was uttered, everyone seemed to recall something and turned their heads towards the direction of the Marines.
Towards Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of the Marines, standing among the throng of naval officers, his hair already graying.
Although the Marines had no intention of joining any side this time, their impressive lineup was enough to make everyone present dare not underestimate them.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero Garp, the three Admirals, Chief of Staff Tsuru, including the Rear Admirals Momousagi and Chaton, and countless Vice Admirals.
Simply standing there was enough to strike fear into countless hearts.
As if unaware of the strange glances cast his way, Garp crunched on a senbei cracker in his mouth, then directly reached out to greet Dragon.
“Hahaha!! Dragon, you brat, it’s been a long time since you came to see your old man!”
“He’s really acknowledged it.”
“He’s really acknowledged it.”
The moment of silence was in anticipation of a greater outburst.
In that instant, Garp’s gesture, the constant twitching of Sengoku’s mouth beside him, and Dragon’s expression as he touched his cheek, as if it still ached, were all deeply seared into the minds of everyone present and absent.
However, before the crowd could erupt, and before the world could react.
The appearance of a special fluctuation instantly captured everyone’s attention.
“They’re here.”
In the Marine camp, Garp lowered his hand, finished all the senbei in his mouth, exchanged glances with Sengoku and Tsuru, and both turned their heads towards the void beneath the grand staircase, a chasm stretching ten thousand feet.
Among the crowd, Dragon lowered his hand, nodded to Shanks, and also turned to look behind him.
At the end of the stairs, as if leading to heaven, amidst the faintly discernible thick mist, stood five figures, not tall, but exuding an oppressive aura.
It was these five figures that kept the countless people below the stairs from daring to take a step further.
Behind them, countless figures in black and those in white armor stood silently on either side, motionless, like statues.
If one observed closely, they would realize that the people standing behind the five elders were all of Vice Admiral rank.
Upon counting, their numbers exceeded, and were not inferior to, the Marine contingent.
Furthermore, among them, the two individuals standing at the front of the white formation and the black formation, despite not emitting any aura, possessed a presence comparable to that of an Admiral.
In the black formation, everyone knew, was the CP organization.
And the white formation was the "God's Knights" that the World Government had always kept hidden in Marie Geoise.
Compared to the CP organization, the God's Knights were even more cold-blooded.
Upon sensing the fluctuation, the five elders and the people behind them came alive. At this moment, a soaring sharpness erupted from the God's Knights’ formation, piercing the sky.
The sheer force of this aura instantly dispersed the mist surrounding them, revealing their figures clearly to everyone’s gaze for the first time.
“Combined Technique.”
This was one of the methods the World Government had kept hidden.
The God's Knights, unlike the CP organization, were a unified entity and never acted individually.
As the God's Knights’ aura surged, and the mist surrounding the stairs dissipated, people gradually saw, at the end of their sight, a two-masted sailing ship, drifting on a sea of white clouds, rapidly approaching.
“Silver hair, it’s silver hair.”
“They’ve really come, they’ve really come.”
Upon seeing the familiar figurehead of the two-masted sailing ship, the silent crowd instantly erupted into extreme clamor.
And the civilians waiting before countless screens also burst into cheers at this moment.
“Well now! What a lively scene!”
At the bow of the Thousand Sunny, Kotarou leaned casually against the railing, holding a gourd of wine in his left hand, gazing at the crowd below with a slight smile.
Behind him, Kuina and the others were not as relaxed, all on high alert.
Bang—!
The crowd automatically parted, creating a large circle on the plaza below the stairs.
The Thousand Sunny gently landed within the circle.
“Silver Hair, you’ve finally arrived. I thought you were scared and wouldn’t dare to come?”
This was the first time the Gorosei had spoken.
They paid no heed to Red Hair or Dragon; they only cared about Kotarou, the creator of the greatest crisis the World Government had faced since its inception, even though this was their first true meeting.
Kotarou did not even glance at Jaygarcia Saturn Saint, who had spoken.
Upon disembarking, he first greeted Dragon, who was walking towards him.
“Mr. Dragon, long time no see!”
“Indeed, it has been a long time.”
Dragon extended his left hand, lifting the cloak covering his head, revealing his distinctive face.
He looked at the young man with a rare sigh in his eyes.
If he had known the young man’s growth would be so astonishing, he would have found a way to have him join the Revolutionary Army the first summer they met.
Perhaps then, the Revolutionary Army’s development over the years could have been more smooth and rapid.
And fewer comrades who sacrificed for the revolution would have been lost.
“Little Kotarou, we meet again.”
“Mr. Kotarou, hello.”
Dragon’s revealing his face seemed to be a signal. Everyone behind him lowered their cloaks at that moment, revealing their faces.
Among them were Ivankov and Inazuma, who had recently parted ways with Kotarou, as well as Sabo, and all the gathered high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Army.
Success or death. If they, with a top-tier combatant like Kotarou, who surpassed the world's peak, still couldn't overthrow the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, then this world would truly be beyond saving.
Therefore, this time, the Revolutionary Army had mobilized almost entirely.
After nodding to Ivankov and Sabo, Kotarou turned his gaze to Shanks and smiled slightly, saying nothing, all understanding conveyed without words.
Shanks' presence was purely out of consideration for Kotarou.
Initially, he might have come to watch the spectacle and ensure order after the event. Now, after learning so much from Kotarou, his mindset had shifted from mere observation.
He would now give his all.
Although Kotarou did not need it.
Turning around, without any hesitation, without paying attention to the countless spectators behind him, nor looking at the Marines.
Kotarou took the first step, with strides neither too large nor too small, but each one identical, slowly walking towards the stairs.
At this moment, the entire world held its breath, watching the young man, watching how his small frame would overturn this corrupt World Government.
They yearned, they yearned for the young man to truly succeed. Those living in the Grand Line felt an even greater anticipation.